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Join our Medicine internship in Tanzania for teenagers and get medical experience in a hospital. You’ll shadow nurses and doctors, and see what the day-to-day life of a doctor in Tanzania is like. This is a great way to add clinical experience to your CV, and start preparing for a future career in medicine.

We’ll teach you about diseases and conditions you’ve only ever read about in textbooks. Doctors will talk you through their symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. You’ll attend regular medical workshops, where you’ll learn about things like measuring blood pressure and suturing wounds. During outreach work, you can use some of the practical skills you’ve learnt to provide basic healthcare to rural communities.

You’ll be based in Arusha, a city nestled at the foot of Mount Meru. As part of your programme, we have scheduled cultural and tourist activities, like a weekend safari trip. You’ll get to enjoy these activities with a group of like-minded volunteers your age. Our local staff will be there to guide you 24/7.

High School Specials > Tanzania > Medicine

Total

When you apply you only pay $295, which comes off the total price.

Looking to do more than one project? Call us on (+1) 212 244 7234 to see if we can offer a discount.

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Project Overview

Trip Format:

High School Specials -
Hassle-free, pre-planned trips for 15-18 year olds that help you step out of your comfort zone

Membership to our volunteer social media groups, to share information and to get in touch

Dedicated full-time staff members with you 24 hours a day

A free cultural awareness course

Personalized MyProjectsAbroad website, with all the information you need about your project, accommodation and destination

What's not included?

Flights

Visa costs (where applicable)

Is a Medicine internship in Tanzania for teenagers right for me?

This internship is ideal for you if you’re a high school student interested in a medical career. You’ll gain practical experience that will give your CV an extra edge. In addition, the outreach work you do will also help demonstrate your commitment to helping others.

If you’re not sure if a career in medicine is for you, this is the chance to see what it’s like to be a doctor or nurse. You can get valuable insight into this career path before committing to years of studying. You’ll also gain skills that are valuable in every career, like teamwork, planning, and leadership.

You don’t need any particular experience or qualifications to join. All of your work is supervised, and our staff are there to guide and help you every step of the way.

For this project, our staff have designed a set itinerary of work and cultural and leisure activities specifically for teenagers. It’s the perfect project for you if you want to get the most out of your time abroad without the added stress of organising your own activities.

What will I do on this Medicine internship for high school students?

You’ll spend time working in hospitals and getting practical medical experience in a Maasai community. Here are some of the tasks you’ll do:

Shadow qualified doctors and nurses in a large hospital in Arusha

Attend regular medical workshops and learn about medical conditions common in Tanzania

Provide Maasai people with basic healthcare during medical outreaches

Explore Tanzania with a group of volunteers your age

Shadow doctors and nurses

As part of this internship, you’ll get to observe the work of doctors and nurses. You’ll be assigned a supervising doctor who will guide you through your different tasks.

Get the chance to see first-hand what working in a hospital in Tanzania is like. You’ll sit in on consultations and get to see how to use specialised medical equipment.

Because the hospital where you work is under-resourced, you’ll also get to see the innovative ways doctors cope with running out of supplies. It’ll give you a broader understanding of how medicine is practised in another country.

Attend workshops run by healthcare professionals

You’ll spend part of this internship attending medical workshops. You’ll learn about common diseases in Tanzania, like malaria and HIV/AIDS. Doctors will also give you first aid training or teach you things like how to suture or give injections.

You’ll also learn practical skills like how to measure blood pressure and blood sugar. You’ll then use these skills at medical outreaches.

Help at medical outreaches

During your time in Tanzania, you’ll participate in medical outreaches. These cover different topics, but you’ll always have plenty of preparation during workshops beforehand. Some examples include visiting a kindergarten to share knowledge about the importance of oral hygiene, or doing basic health checks in a Maasai community.

The communities where we hold outreaches are usually remote or rural, with no access to regular medical care. So the work you do during outreaches will help improve access to basic healthcare for these communities.

Explore this beautiful country

This programme has a set itinerary and although you’ll be doing lots of learning, there are also plenty of leisure activities in between. So, as part of this project, you’ll get to explore Tanzania and learn more about local culture. Through all your adventures, you’ll be with a group of volunteers your age. Our friendly staff will also be there to guide and supervise you.

You’ll have a cooking lesson to learn how to cook local dishes. During a visit to a Maasai community, you’ll enjoy a traditional lunch and get to see handmade beaded jewellery. You’ll even have a weekend safari through a breath-taking wildlife reserve.

Where in Tanzania will I be working?

Arusha

You’ll be based in Arusha, a city in northern Tanzania. This city is an eclectic mix of modern and less developed buildings. It’s a buzzing city, filled with local markets and restaurants. On the outskirts, there are lush landscapes and the serene beauty of the African savannah.

You’ll work in a hospital and in remote communities. The hospital where you work will be less developed than you’re used to, giving you the chance to see a different side of healthcare. You’ll also conduct outreaches in remote communities, particularly in a rural Maasai community. You might also run outreaches in kindergartens or care centres.

What are the aims and impact of this Medicine internship in Tanzania?

The aim of this project is to give you an introduction to a career in medicine. You’ll learn practical medical skills that will give you the confidence for university applications. You’ll also get to see what working in a hospital would be like, which can help you decide on your future career path.

We also aim to provide basic healthcare to remote and rural communities. These communities don’t have the funds or transport to seek regular medical assistance. By helping at outreaches, you’ll help doctors advise and treat patients in these communities. You’ll also raise awareness about disease prevention.

Join this internship for high school students, gain medical experience, and help us work towards providing basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups in Tanzania.

For years it has been my dream to go on to study Medicine at University, and, as most of you know, this is extremely competitive in the UK. So as soon as I turned 16 I started looking for work experience that would help me with my application.

Volunteer review

From the minute I arrived at the lodge, surrounded on three sides by dense jungle, and on the fourth, a huge piranha-packed
river, I knew that my stay here would be unforgettable.

From the minute I arrived at the lodge, surrounded on three sides by dense jungle, and on the fourth, a huge piranha-packed
river, I knew that my stay here would be unforgettable.

From the minute I arrived at the lodge, surrounded on three sides by dense jungle, and on the fourth, a huge piranha-packed
river, I knew that my stay here would be unforgettable.

Management Plans

We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.

Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.

Measuring Our Impact

Every year, thousands of High School Special volunteers and interns actively make a difference around the world. During their time abroad, they contribute towards achieving long-term goals and make a long-lasting positive impact on the communities where they work.

FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION

You'll stay with a host family in Arusha. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Tanzania and have a truly unique experience.

On our High School Specials, we will always try to have you share a room with at least one volunteer or intern of the same sex and approximate age. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.

SAFETY AND STAFF SUPPORT

Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have all the extra support you need as a young person travelling abroad. Our Projects Abroad staff are there for you 24 hours a day during the week and over weekends to provide constant support and guidance. Our staff also make sure you feel comfortable and safe at your placement and accommodation. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Glory Matoi Godfrey

Country Director

Glory took over as Tanzania Country Director in October 2012. She previously worked as Desk Officer and Programme Coordinator after joining Projects Abroad in June 2010. She enjoys introducing volunteers to Tanzania. Glory has previously spent a year in Germany as a volunteer and has a good command of the language. She is best known around the office for her professional attire, ever-changing hairdos, and love of chocolate.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Moses Phineas

Finance Manager

Moses joined the Projects Abroad team in March 2012 as a finance manager. He is in charge of the financial accounts for Tanzania. He lives in Arusha. In his spare time, he enjoys playing sports like football, basketball and volleyball.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Jackie Ali

Office Coordinator

Jackie joined Projects Abroad in 2012 as a coordinator for the 2 Week Special programme. She now helps in many roles including that of Office Assistant, Social Manager and Volunteer Coordinator for the Human Rights Project. Jackie is the person to ask if you want to know where to shop or where to go in Arusha or Zanzibar. When she's not travelling to Nairobi where she spent her childhood, you can find Jackie singing at her local church.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Angel Hezron

Assistant Medical Coordinator

Angel was born and raised in Arusha. She joined the Projects Abroad Tanzania team in 2013 and is now the assistant medical coordinator. Angel loves cooking and reading in her spare time.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Florence Mdodi

Medical Coordinator

Florence joined the Projects Abroad team in February 2018 as a Medical Coordinator. He was born and raised in the Morogoro Region in Tanzania. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and social work from Mwenge Catholic University. In his spare time, he enjoys watching and playing sports, like football and volleyball.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Irene Francis Munishi

Human Rights Project Coordinator

Irene joined Projects Abroad in January 2016. She is in charge of the Human Rights project. She has a Law degree and prior experience working with Community based organisations. She was most recently a legal officer at a firm.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Robert Porokwa

Robert first joined Projects Abroad in February 2011 as an Assistant Manager. He was born and raised in an area of Tanzania called Engikaret in Longido District. He holds a Bachelor degree in Geography & Environmental Studies from the University of Dar es Salaam. Before joining Projects Abroad he spent four months running an HIV/Aids research project in the Maasai community. He likes travelling, swimming, reading and playing volleyball.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Emanuel Edward Mndeme

Emanuel joined Projects Abroad in August 2013. He is originally from Arusha in Tanzania and studied at St. Augustine University in Mtwara where he achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. Before becoming the Care & Teaching Coordinator, Emanuel was a Volunteer Coordinator. He enjoys his work as it gives him the opportunity to meet interesting people from different backgrounds. Emanuel loves reading books and is very interested in history.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Mepukori Meing'atu Olenoonjipiship

Volunteer Coordinator

Mepu was born and raised in an area of Tanzania called Malambo. This area is in the heart of Maasai land in the Ngorongoro Serengeti ecosystem. He spent his childhood in Endulen Village in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Mepu joined Projects Abroad in November 2016 as a Volunteer Coordinator. He enjoys meeting and working with volunteers from around the world. In his free time, he loves reading novels, chatting on social media, and travelling.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Michael Martin Shirima

Volunteer Coordinator

Michael joined Projects Abroad in January 2016 as a volunteer coordinator. He works closely with volunteers and the host families in Tanzania. He is also in charge of airport pick-ups, so he may very well be the first person you meet in Arusha. Michael has travelled throughout many countries in Africa and loves working with volunteers from all around the world.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Constantine Munishi

Volunteer Coordinator

Constantine, or Regan as he is known, joined Projects Abroad in May 2010. He is usually the first Projects Abroad face you see at the airport. He also introduces volunteers to their host families. Regan used to work as a chef at a local hotel and is famous for his Regani pizza. His hobbies include watching football, cooking and karaoke.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Elizabeth Makala

Volunteer Coordinator

Elizabeth joined Projects Abroad in November 2012 as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Micro-finance Project. She previously worked as the Branch Manager at BRAC Foundation, a micro-finance institution. Elizabeth is interested in learning about different cultures, reading and travelling.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Gabriela Estrada

Volunteer Advisor

Gabriela was born in Guadalajara, she has a degree in Foreign Languages. She has worked as an English teacher and translator for several years and she joined the Projects Abroad team in 2016. She loves spending time with her family and friends, reading, going to concerts and cultural events. Gabriela has had the opportunity to travel through South America and Western Europe.

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